Atticus Cruiser

One of the most common sights in an Imperial Fleet patrol today, the Atticus-class Command Cruiser is the foremost lead vessel in human space. Designed to be the command ship of any fleet that lacks battleships or dreadnoughts, the Atticus-class can control dozens if not hundreds of other cruisers, frigates, corvettes, and strike craft. Designed four years ago and named after the famous Imperial Noble Atticus, this vessel is one of the most feared sights an enemy of the Empire can find, as it means a swarm of other craft will be nearby.

Service & Requisition
Designed by Imperial Forgeworks to be a front-line command craft, the Atticus boasts an extensive suite of sensors, scout drones, probes, amplification systems, tracking devices, electronic warfare measures, and countermeasures. An accepted fact among enemies of the Empire is that if an Atticus-class vessel is in-system, fooling or evading the Imperial Navy is going to be nearly impossible.

With the capability to manage numerous other ships and to track enemies, the Atticus is not designed around getting into a firefight. Rather, it boosts the effectiveness of every vessel surrounding it by an order of magnitude. Strike vessels fly in more agile formations, assault vessels tank their enemies more effectively, and artillery vessels can shell more accurately and from longer distances when an Atticus is leading the battle.

The only downside to an Atticus is that the enemy can be certain the highest-ranking command officer of the fleet is onboard, unless a battleship or dreadnought is nearby. Aggressive adversaries will often try to target the command cruiser in order to "sever the head" of the Imperial Fleet in question, but this is usually difficult or impossible, since command cruisers always attempt to stay out of the main battle area and command from a distance.

While the weaponry on this class is second-tier, the shielding and countermeasures are excellent, and it usually has the opportunity to escape intact before destruction. Also of note are the Warp Stabbers, which allow an Atticus a single opportunity to escape an Interdiction Field, though at the cost of much energy.

Access to the Atticus-class Command Cruiser is obviously impossible outside of the Imperial Navy, but Nobles may purchase the vessel at a cost of Φ13,920,000,000. A minimum rank of Count is required to request this vessel from Imperial High Command.

Statistics
Cost: Φ13,920,000,000

Length: 687 meters

Detailed Crew: 70 Bridge Officers, 300 Staff Officers, 100 Specialists, 300 Enlisted, ~100 Technicians, 30 Drone Pilots (total 900 appx.)

Weaponry: Eight Deva-class 30MW heavy concussive meson bolt launchers (four forward, two port, two starboard), thirty-two Sobakan Attack Drones for perimeter defense and strike-craft removal

Top Impulse Speed: 0.19 Warp / 126,920,000 mph